Board & Bylaws
NABA Board of Directors and governing documents
Board of directors
Officers serve four-year terms. Elections are held every four years at the Spring Conference, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election cycle. The next scheduled election is 2028. Vacancies between elections are filled by Board appointment until the next regular election.
Michelle Esquenazi
President
State: FL
Bail professional with over 20 years of experience in surety and agency management.
John J. Looney Sr.
Executive Vice President
State: MT
Owner/operator of Bad Boy Bail Bonds, President of MTBAA, licensed process server and retained expert witness.
Tommy Weatherholtz Jr.
Senior Vice President
State: WV
Charles Chase III
Vice President
State: GA
Kelly Winkles
Secretary
State: GA
Wendy Saler-Fordin
Treasurer
State: NY
Michael Woody
Sergeant at Arms
State: NC
Voting rights & membership tiers
NABA governance is designed to ensure that voting rights rest with active secured bail professionals — not vendors, organizations, or non-participating supporters.
| Tier | Annual dues | Vote on elections | Vote on amendments† | Board eligible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General Member Individual bail agents and recovery agents | $50 | No | No | No |
Voting Member Requires 3-yr consecutive membership + conference attendance (§3.1(B)) | $250 | Yes | Yes* | Yes |
Associate Member State associations, allied businesses, and organizations | $500 | No | No | No |
Corporate Surety Member Recognition-tier partner — no governance rights | $2,500 | No | No | No |
Honorary Member Granted by unanimous Board vote | Exempt | No | No | No |
† Bylaws are amended by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors (§13.1).
* Voting Members also ratify amendments that eliminate or materially restrict their voting rights or eligibility, or materially increase their dues (§13.3).
Bylaws
NABA's bylaws govern the organization's structure, membership, elections, and operations. Bylaws are amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. Amendments that restrict Voting Member rights additionally require Voting Member ratification.
NABA Bylaws — 2026 (PDF)
The current bylaws were adopted by the voting membership. Download the full document below.
Download NABA Bylaws 2026Key provisions summary
Name, incorporation & purpose
Organization name, principal office (228 Park Ave South, PMB 770063, New York, NY 10003), Delaware incorporation (Sep 11, 2023), 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and statement of purpose as a national professional association for the secured bail profession.
Nonprofit operation & dissolution
Dissolution requires a 3/4 vote of the full Board plus ratification by 2/3 of Voting Members in good standing. Remaining assets must be distributed to aligned 501(c)(3) organizations.
Membership & voting rights
Five membership classes: General Member ($50), Voting Member ($250), Associate Member ($500), Corporate Surety Member ($2,500), and Honorary Member (dues-exempt, Board-granted). Only Voting Members who have maintained three consecutive years of membership and attended all conferences hold voting rights.
Board of directors
Board consists of seven elected Officers. Board members must be Voting Members in good standing with at least two years of active State Director service. Officers serve four-year terms on the presidential election cycle (next election: 2028). Vacancies are filled by Board appointment until the next regular election.
Officers & duties
Seven officers: President, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms. The President may authorize expenditures up to $1,500 without prior Board approval. The Treasurer is individually bonded.
Meetings
Annual Meeting held at the Spring Conference. Membership vote quorum is 50 Voting Members; if quorum is not reached, voting falls to all Voting Members present plus the Executive Board. Special membership meetings may only be called by the Board.
Elections
Officer elections held every four years at the Spring Conference on the U.S. presidential election cycle, beginning 2028. Nominations submitted 30 days prior; Board approves nominees by majority vote. Presidential nominations: one from the outgoing President, one additional via Board process.
Amendments
Bylaws amended by 2/3 vote of the Board at a duly noticed meeting. Amendments that eliminate or materially restrict Voting Member rights, eligibility, or significantly raise their dues additionally require ratification by a majority of Voting Members (§13.3). All members notified within 30 days of any adoption.
Serve on the NABA Board
Board elections are held every four years at the Spring Conference on the U.S. presidential election cycle. The next election is 2028. Voting Members in good standing are eligible to run.
Become a voting member →